Brit's Lawyer to Judge -- You're Not a Pop Star

Posted Nov 8th 2007 12:33PM by TMZ Staff

Britney Spears' lawyer has just told the Commissioner in the custody case that he just don't understand what it takes to be a pop star.

As TMZ first reported, K-Fed's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, went to court this morning, arguing that Brit's visitation should be modified because she's violating the order requiring her to respond to the drug-testing people within an hour of the time they call.

High-powered lawyer Anne Kiley, who reps Brit, told the judge her client has received calls as early as 8:00 AM. Kiley said pop stars don't get up that early, adding, "You are not a pop star with a number one album, so you don't know." The courtroom erupted in laughter.

Apparently, Kiley got her message across, because the Commish is open to a more flexible timetable that works for Brit.

They're back in court at 10:30 AM PST. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Both sides came back to court and told the judge they had not yet reached an agreement. They said they needed more time to talk and will present a complete plan to the court by Tuesday at Noon.

Commissioner Gordon reiterated that Britney Spears must provide a single, working telephone number to be called in for drug testing. K-Fed's attorney told the court that of the 14 calls from the company assigned to perform the random tests on the popwreck, she failed to respond eight times. The Commish did not change the current visitation order, so everything remains as he ordered on October 26. One item he did order: Brit must notify her lawyer immediately when she changes her cell phone number. Apparently, she changes her number as often as she changes her clothes, and he's over it! He told her attorney that she must then immediately contact Kevin's lawyer, and then call the drug testing facility. That's some phone tree!

The judge told her lawyer, "Basically, the testing facility needs a number they can call and get a response."

They'll be back in court on November 26.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Britney Spears

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(Page 1 of 16) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. 2 Little kids and they 'laugh off' the fact that 8:00 am is too early for her to get up? Are you serious? It's well known there is no tour or promoting for her "#1 album" - so why can't she get up early with her kids? Oh that's right, too much partying and driving around to gas stations. THE JUDGE NEEDS TO READ TMZ!

Posted at 12:54PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Disturbed

2. Britney Spears' lawyer has just told the Commissioner in the custody case that he Just ***don't*** understand what it takes to be a pop star.

The lawyers getting Brit itius

FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:55PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Holden MacGroin

3. I want to be a pop star !!!! .. Don't wake me up before 8am !!! (thanks)

Posted at 1:04PM on Nov 8th 2007 by bustrorl

4. Wouldn't want to inconvenience Brit's morning coffee run with something as minor and her minors!

Posted at 1:05PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Doh!!!

5. When I think I have heard everything - here comes the stupidest comment of the day-being a pop star doesn't mean the rules don't apply to you, there are many pop stars that seem to be able to combine their careers and families. And I could understand that if Brit was touring or performing at night that 8:00 AM would be early, but lets be realistic she is seen out and about with her hangers on getting photographed (very exhausting making Starbuck runs and stopping for gas). For 5 years I worked the 3rd shift while my 3 children were small (I am a single mother) I still managed to be home for breakfast, see them off to school and be there when they came home, I am just tired of the boo who's this young woman cries thinking she is special because she sings. When you have children your a parent first and everything else comes after.

Posted at 1:20PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Linda

6. So you get out of bed and go!! This woman is crazy. I can't believe the Commish fell for this.

Posted at 1:22PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Some Faustkateer

7. As long as the Judge is ordering that Brit pay K-Fed's legal bills, shouldn't there also be some kind of arrangement to prevent his lawyers from continuously coming to court with silly requests....after all, each time they come in the ching-ching bill does not go to their client. Seems to me that this leaves open the possibility of his lawyers doing things solely for monetary gain. If they knew KFed had to pay them....why do I think they'd be in court less often???

Posted at 1:24PM on Nov 8th 2007 by JCinAZ

8. lol i dont get up before that when im not working lol

Posted at 1:34PM on Nov 8th 2007 by crymeariver

9. One hour, that is all she gets?????? That is not very much time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What if there is traffic at 8 a.m. in Los Angeles??????? Oh, Gee that would never happen, Ding, Dang Duh!
What if TMZ paparazzi where blocking her car and she couldn't get into the testing place for an hour????? That could never happen, could it?????

The Judge is definatley on Kaplans payroll or they are doing each other! This is so one sided!

Posted at 1:35PM on Nov 8th 2007 by A Mother

10. This is the best excuse her lawyer can come up with? Really? A pop star with a number one album? What do the Eagles have to do with this?

Posted at 1:37PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Nick

11. pop stars is that what she thnks she is ???

Posted at 1:46PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Flirty

12. OK... so have her pee in a cup at midnite or 2AM...

Posted at 1:59PM on Nov 8th 2007 by mega

13. #9 - she only has to RESPOND to the call within one hour not jump out of bed and run down there to pee.

This spells it out clearly and gives her skanky arse 6 HOURS to get there.

"PETITIONER SHALL PROVIDE HER URINE SPECIMIN WITHIN SIX HOURS OF TELEPHONIC NOTIFICATION FROM THE TESTING FACILITY AT THE TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH SHE PROVIDED TO THE TESTING FACILITY AND COUNSEL. THE PETITIONER SHALL NOTIFY THE TESTING FACILITY AND COUNSEL FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES FORTHWITH IF SHE CHANGES THIS TELEPHONE NUMBER. THREE ATTEMPTS OVER THE COURSE OF AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO CONTACT PETITIONER AT THE TELEPHONE NUMBER SHE PROVIDED TO THE TESTING FACILITY WITHOUT A RESPONSE FROM THE PETITIONER SHALL CONSTITUTE A FAILURE TO TEST PURSUANT TO THE COURT'S PRIOR ORDERS."

Posted at 2:07PM on Nov 8th 2007 by The DQ

14. LOL! This is cracking me up. If this was any 'normal' person we would be expected to be there within the hour. No matter what time the call was placed. I would wonder why she can't report within an hour. Perhaps hiding something in that pee? I know it's not as easy to do as it used to be, but still. There's always the possibility. Get your arse up outta bed, Brit. Get that Startoots to get you going. Up an' at em!

Posted at 2:11PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Jennifer

15. Lawyer: Brit Failing Drug-Testing Procedures, Missed 8 out of 14 Tests
A lawyer for Kevin Federline alleged that Britney Spears has failed to follow drug-testing procedures, missing eight of 14 drug tests, at an emergency hearing in their ongoing custody battle at L.A. Superior Court Thursday.
He alleged that Spears, 25 — who has been called to submit twice-weekly random drug and alcohol tests — has not been able to be reached for results within the hour, a court-ordered deadline.
"There have been 14 requests and only eight have been responded to," Kaplan told Court Commissioner Scott Gordon. "We have been in court on this exact issue at least three times."
Spears' attorney Anne Kiley shot back, calling the tests "unconstitutional.
"Since October 5 there have been 10 negative drug tests," she said, adding, "the idea that she needs to respond within the hour is meaningless.
"Is the issue that Britney Spears needs to get up at 8:30 a.m. and answer the phone?" she went on. "She's a pop star with a No. 1 album. She is not up that early." [Spears' album was actually No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200.]
Gordon fired back: "She needs to take responsibility. The issue is to see if she can follow a court order.
"Since we started this, there have been lost phones, changed numbers, voicemails being left on someone else's voice mail....
"Maybe we should set up a fixed appointment for her to be tested," he said. "The point is we cannot continue to do these weekly ex-parte motions."
A source tells “the hour that they test [Spears] is very important. If she’s out partying the night before, that would be reflected. That’s why it’s an important issue to Kevin and his attorney.”
Lawyers will reconvene later today to set up a new plan for testing.
Spears and Federline were not present.

Posted at 2:15PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Disturbed

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